Tanzania is mourning the death of First Gentleman Hafidh Ameir, who has died at the age of 76.
Ameir, husband to President Samia Suluhu Hassan, died while receiving treatment for a heart condition at a hospital in Zanzibar, according to a statement.
His death has cast a pall over the East African nation, with funeral arrangements now underway in Kizimkazi, Zanzibar.
Ameir served as Tanzania’s First Gentleman after his wife became president in 2021, making him the country’s first man to hold the unofficial position.
He largely kept a low public profile despite his wife’s position, and was known as an agricultural academic.
Ameir and President Hassan were married in 1978 and had four children, including daughter Wanu Hafidh Ameir, who is a politician in Zanzibar.
Further details on the funeral programme are expected as preparations continue in Kizimkazi.
